Network-path denial via overwritten error routes
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Improper error handling in the Linux kernel IPv4 FIB allows local users to disrupt network routing under specific policy settings. When CONFIG_IP_MULTIPLE_TABLES is enabled without added rules, fib_lookup() continues after an error-route result and overwrites it with a default-table route. A local user with sufficient routing control can make traffic follow a route that an unreachable entry should reject, causing inconsistent or unavailable network paths.
Summary
What happened
Improper error handling in the Linux kernel IPv4 FIB allows local users to disrupt network routing under specific policy settings. When CONFIG_IP_MULTIPLE_TABLES is enabled without added rules, fib_lookup() continues after an error-route result and overwrites it with a default-table route. A local user with sufficient routing control can make traffic follow a route that an unreachable entry should reject, causing inconsistent or unavailable network paths.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-72421
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-390
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=3.6
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <49eaf1403201357762d745a35882fb734107d763
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <5ae18d87a45698e8244d0fcba64c658c35a7dd3d
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <828fad4fd418bcdb9f5d66fec0d184c52a85ec31
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <9127589aabdee588278e8d0d0bd3709a760a92c8
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <a29e95fbc51e8a1b932773fd0e259b2080881443
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <a668fa160247d7bbe921548cb845f607b8b9305f
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <b72f0db64205d9ce462038ba995d5d31eff32dc1
- Affected versionversion=f4530fa574df4d833506c53697ed1daa0d390bf4 <fd25996f57a95d56bc568c89b4921edcf334b7d8
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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